Reference & Info

For many travelers, the greatest amount of stress is NOT the trip, but preparing for the trip. Many of these recommendations many seem trivial or obvious – but when you’re in a foreign country, struggling with different languages, culture, food, time-zones, and currency it can be exhausting. For some preparation tips, Read more…

There are so many “lists” of what to bring to Europe. If you brought everything that everyone recommends you’d need a few additional suitcases! There are multiple articles on the internet with suggestions … and even books if you need more help. I strongly suggest take ONLY what you’ll NEED. Europe has grocery stores, pharmacies, and plenty of shopping. Chances are many of the things you’ll need, and see on lists, you can get in Europe. Read more…

For travelers coming to Rome, “Should you or should you not pre-book sites or transportation for a vacation in Rome?” Also – What must you pre-book; What should you pre-book; What could you pre-book? And What sites/services would you never pre-book? Certainly these are all personal choices, but to get get some insight into the many options available, Read more…

If you’re shopping, dining,or just walking through Rome, you could become a target of pickpockets. There’s not much violent crime in Italy, but there are many, highly-skilled pickpockets. Losing your passport, money, credit cards, and identification in a foreign country can be intimidating. And you may not even know you’ve been “targeted” until you reach for your wallet at a store. For some tools and guidance, Read more…

Throughout Rome, some of the best places to get helpful information are the Tourist Information Points or I Punti Informativi Turistici (PIT). At these P.I.T.’s – or tourist info booths – are multilingual staff who can assist you. Here you will find promotional materials and information for tourist and cultural sites provided for and authorized by the City of Rome. There are also reservation and purchasing services for major attractions. Read more…

Where do you go when you have to go? Unfortunately, Rome’s public toilet options are not well marked. They are available but often very difficult to find. Most people thus believe that Rome lacks sufficient public lavatories. After you see this compiled list, you may realize there are many facilities. Rome’s public bathrooms have mixed reviews on sanitation and cleanliness. Read more…

With the height of season – and the heat of Rome – rapidly approaching, it’s a good time to talk about…. water! Rome probably has more public water fountains than any other city in the world. Yet visitors walk by them daily without even knowing they exist. Yes, you can get clean, great tasting, ice cold drinking water all over town – FREE! Rather than pay for that overpriced bottle of water, find one of the many “nasoni” in town. Read more…

The newest, latest option from TIM is called TIM International. It caters to visitors because in order to “register” you have to be a non-local. For travelers to Italy planning to bring their own phones and buy a SIM card locally, it’s a great deal. It’s probably one of the better deals tailored to the needs of the international visitor. Here’s how it works: Read more…

For US travelers, understanding the International Phone system can be sometimes confusing. The International country code system has remained standard and relatively unchanged. Many new countries have been created – but the system has been consistent. I hope to give you some assistance on how to call locally, from Europe, and from the United States. Read more…

Rome has an incredible array of free hotspot options. Free WiFi is currently available in cafe’s, restaurants, and many hotels. If you “register” using an Italian mobile phone, then you can reach hundreds more free hot-spot locations. Imagine sitting in a cafe near the Pantheon or Colosseo, sipping a caffe’ and using Skype to talk with your friends back home. How can you do this? Read more…

In the USA, the household electricity is at 110 to 120 volts and 60 Hz. In Europe, electricity is usually supplied at 220 volts and a frequency of 50 Hz. TWICE AS MUCH VOLTAGE coming out of those wall outlets. To use your electrical devices in Europe you may need some additional “hardware” to avoid “electrocuting” your equipment, or even YOURSELF! For more information on how to effectively (and safely) use your equipment, Read more…

Perhaps the most convenient – and least expensive – method to get money in Italy is to use an automatic teller machine. ATM’s in Italy, like in the US, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and at various banks. In Italy, ATM’s are called Bancomats. There are more than 45,000 bancomats in Italy. How can you best use a bancomat? Read more…

The VAT Refund is probably one of the most confusing aspects of shopping in Italy. VAT stands for Value-Added-Tax. In some countries the VAT can be as high as 25% of the cost of the item you’re purchasing. Unlike America, where the “sales tax” is added on once you get to the cash register, in Italy (and Europe), this “tax” is added into the cost when the item is priced. Read more…

Rome is an incredible city to walk in and most folks who visit the city say walking is the best way to see the city. To know where you’re going – or at minimum, how to get back to your hotel – get a map. A good map can be the key to discovering everything everything Rome has to offer. For some great “map options,” Read more…

Traveling in Europe, it’s best to travel light. Euro-Airliners often have different weight and size restrictions than their US counterparts. Due to the checked-luggage costs, and challenges of lost luggage, we primarily “carried-on.” I researched many different bags that would meet most Euro-Airline restriction, so for some suggestions on the “best roller bag” in Europe… Read more…

LuggageBase is a family-owned business based in California. LuggageBase does not carry every line of luggage, but they do select bang-for-your-buck products, providing you the best quality luggage. They are not locked into one manufacturer, constantly change inventory, have some of the lowest prices I’ve seen, and back it up with their Price Guarantee. Read more…

If you are interested in more travel support, contact me – Ron in Rome – at:

Ron Phillips TravelAn Independent Advisor for Brownell Travel – A Virtuoso® Agency
Website: www.ronphillipstravel.com
Email: info@ronphillipstravel.com
Phone: (404) 474-3851
FAX: (678) 528-2672
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